Married Esther Catherine Moon,of Herkimer Co, NY,in 1844, she died 30 Oct 1899. They moved to Dodge Co.WI in the Fall of 1851. Their children: George H., Elizabeth C. and Samuel D. (twins), Milton H., and Eugene W. He was Captain, and later Lt.Col., of the 10th Wisconsin Infantry, Co.B. In 1883 they homesteaded in Myron Twp., Faulk Co, Dakota Territory, with Milton and Julia Ann Deloy Roby. After Milton's death they moved to Grafton,NE where his son George H. was living. His middle name was originally Whittemore, after his mother's maiden name, but he usually used Whitman.
****************************************
History of Dodge County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1880, pp
651-652
Col. Jacob W. ROBY, farmer, Section 3 [Williamstown Township, Dodge County,
Wisconsin], P. O. Kekoskee [Williamstown Township], was born 09 July 1824 in
Oneida County, New York. His parents were farmers, and he was educated in
the common schools of Oneida County. When about twenty-one, he was made
Captain of a boat on the Erie Canal, which position he held until the fall of
1851, when he settled on 130 acres of his present farm. About twenty acres
of this were poorly cleared, upon which was a log house. As a result of
years of toil and management, the Colonel has 170 acres of well improved
[land], with the best of buildings; he also owns a farm of 200 acres in York
County, Nebraska.
He [Jacob W. ROBY] enlisted 14 September 1861 with eighty-four men of Dodge
County, and received eighty-three votes for Captain, voting himself for J.
ADAMS of Horicon [Hubbard Township, Dodge County]. This company was called
the Lyon Guards, and was organized with the Tenth Wisconsin Volunteer
Infantry as Company B. He served as Captain of this company until 20
September 1863, participating in all engagements, including Perryville, where
his belt plate was dented by a rebel bullet, and Stone River, where his right
arm was broken by a piece of rebel shell.
In the battle of Chickamauga, Lieut. Col. ELY was mortally wounded. Capt.
[Jacob W.] ROBY then took and retained command of the regiment, was afterward
commissioned Lieut. Colonel by Gov. LEWIS, and commanded the remnant of his
heroic regiment at the battles of Buzzard's Roost, Lookout Mountain and
Missionary Ridge. He [Jacob W. ROBY] was then about two months in command of
the post at Tyner's Station, East Tennessee. The regiment then joined
SHERMAN in his Atlanta campaign and was among the foremost at the battles of
Snake Creek Gap, second Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Dalton, Kenesaw Mountain,
Chattahoochee and Peach Tree Creek. [An account of the Battle of Peach Tree
Creek follows.]
In this battle, Col. ROBY was ordered to advance from the second line with
his regiment to a certain position, on reaching this position the first line
began fighting, here the Colonel's horse was wounded; dismounting, he
advanced without orders to a position near the first line to protect his men
by the shelter of a hill, from the crest of which the first line was
repulsed. The Colonel tried in vain to stay the mad retreat of this, the
104th Illinois Volunteer Infantry; he then, still without orders, ordered a
charge on the three rebel regiments, now in full possession of this partly [p
652] entrenched hill, this seemingly reckless dash so surprised the enemy
that their fire passed harmlessly over the heads of our boys, the Colonel
ordered his first line to fire, which fire broke the rebel lines; the second
fire completed the rout, the Wisconsin boys still pouring in merciless fire
upon the flying foe, many of the boys firing twenty or more rounds.
This was one of the most wonderful as well as daring feats of the war, as the
10th did not lose a man; Col. ROBY received a shot through his hat and one
officer was wounded in the shoulder. The regiment then participated in the
siege of Atlanta and the battle of Jonesboro; after helping to pursue HOOD
over Sand Mountain, the time of the regiment having more than expired, it
returned and was mustered out in Milwaukee, 03 November 1864. The Colonel
then retired to his farm, where he now recounts, with pride and pleasure, the
exploits of his famous regiment. Among his souvenirs he has a sword
presented by his company and one presented by the regiment; also a splendid
scarf given him by Capt. DONAHUE, of Company E, 104th Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, whose life was saved by the charge at Peach Tree Creek.
In 1844 the Colonel [Jacob W. ROBY] married Miss Esther C. MOON, of Herkimer
County, New York. They [Jacob W. and Esther C. (MOON) ROBY] have five
children: (1) George H., (2) Elizabeth C., a twin; (3) Samuel D., twin of
Elizabeth D.; (4) Milton H., and (5) Eugene W. Col. ROBY is Republican.
*********************************
Tenth Wisconsin Infantry
Perryville, Stones River, Chickamauga, Atlanta Campaign
Cols., Alfred R. Chapin, John G. McMynn, Duncan McKercher, Lieut.-Cols., Joshua J. Guppey, John G. McMynn, John H. Ely, Jacob W. Roby; Majors., John G. McMynn, Henry O. Johnson, John H. Ely, Duncan McKercher, Robert Harkness.
This regiment was organized at Milwaukee and was mustered in Oct. 14, 1861, with a numerical strength of 916. It left the state Nov. 9, and the following spring made a march upon Bowling Green, dislodged the enemy at Huntsville, where it captured the military road, machine shops, engines and rolling stock, seized Stevenson, Decatur and Tuscumbia and elicited high praise from Brig. General Mitchell.
It defended and saved Paint Rock bridge, acted as rear-guard in the retrograde movement to the Ohio, in which it fought guerrillas at almost every step brought trains safely from Huntsville to Stevenson, and assisted in repelling an attack at the latter place. It was under a heavy fire at Perryville, Ky., and at one time held its position with empty guns for 20 minutes until the battery which it had been ordered to support was placed in a safe position. Of 276 men engaged 36 were killed, 110 wounded and 1 missing. Gen. Rousseau said in his report: "For this gallant conduct, these brave men are entitled to the gratitude of their country and I thank them here as I did on the field of battle."
The regiment was engaged at Stone's River, remaining on the field for 4 days, was at Hoover's Gap, and took part at Chickamauga under a terrible fire, losing 18 killed, 56 wounded and 132 missing, of whom the greater number were prisoners. It supported Loomis' battery at Missionary Ridge and in the Atlanta campaign participated in the battles at Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain and Peachtree Creek. On Oct. 16, 1864, the recruits and reenlisted veterans were transferred to the 21st regiment and the remainder were sent to Milwaukee where they were mustered out Oct. 25.
The original strength of the regiment was 916. Gain by recruits 105; veteran reenlistments, 13; total, 1,034. Losses by death, 219; desertion, 21; transfer, 23, discharge, 316, mustered out, 455.
***************************************
Report of Capt. Jacob W. Roby, Tenth Wisconsin Infantry (Chickamauga).
HDQRS. TENTH WISCONSIN INFANTRY,
Chattanooga, September 23, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the Tenth Regt. Wisconsin Volunteer In-fantry during the late engagement:
The regimental marched from near Stevens' Gap on the night of the 18th instant to within 10 miles of Chattanooga. Saturday morning, September 19, we were ordered to advance on the enemy in the second line of battle with the brigade. After advancing a short distance we received a fire from the enemy, but they were driven some distance through the woods. At this time we were ordered up in the front line on the right of the brigade. We threw out skirmishers and soon engaged the enemy; our skirmishers were soon driven in and the enemy advanced on us in heavy force. We held our position a few moments, but the enemy turning our right flank, we were forced to fall back and did so with the brigade. We lost at this time 1 officer and 9 men killed and several wounded. In the afternoon we again advanced to the front with the brigade and in the evening fell back.
Sunday morning, 20th instant, our regiment was again moved to the front and formed behind the Thirty-eighth Indiana. We remained here till about 10 o'clock, when we were ordered forward to support the Thirty-eight Indiana, where we remained but a short time when the enemy turned the left of our division and were advancing through the woods on our left flank. Our right was now thrown to the left of the brigade and engaged the enemy. They were soon forced to fall back. They made another attempt to break through on our left about noon, but were repulsed as before and we held our own till nearly dark, when we received a flank and rear fire from the enemy and were forced to fall back. Our regiment, being on the left and not knowing the position of the enemy on that side, fell back in that direction and therefore ran into the lines of the enemy. Col. Ely, Maj. McKercher, and nearly all of the officers we had on the field, together with most of the men, were supposed to have been captured at this time. All we could find were brought off with the balance of the brigade. Monday morning, September 21, we numbered 3 officers and 26 men. We were moved to the front about 1 p. m. and formed in rear of the brigade, where we remained until about 4 a. m., September 22, when we were ordered to retire and moved with the brigade to Chattanooga, where we have remained since.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. W. ROBY,
Capt., Comdg. Tenth Wisconsin Infantry.
Lieut. GEORGE H. DEVOL,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-New York Times, June 2, 1882:
Miss Elizabeth Collins, of Milwaukee, a young girl of 18 years, has brought suit for $25,000 damages against Col. Jacob W. Roby, a well-to-do widower of Mayville, Dodge County, Wis, for alleged breach of promise of marriage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After Esther's death (Oct. 30, 1899) he married Grace Jones (1873-1971), on August 12, 1900. She was 46 years younger and remarkably collected his Civil War pension until her death- 106 years after the war ended.
Married Esther Catherine Moon,of Herkimer Co, NY,in 1844, she died 30 Oct 1899. They moved to Dodge Co.WI in the Fall of 1851. Their children: George H., Elizabeth C. and Samuel D. (twins), Milton H., and Eugene W. He was Captain, and later Lt.Col., of the 10th Wisconsin Infantry, Co.B. In 1883 they homesteaded in Myron Twp., Faulk Co, Dakota Territory, with Milton and Julia Ann Deloy Roby. After Milton's death they moved to Grafton,NE where his son George H. was living. His middle name was originally Whittemore, after his mother's maiden name, but he usually used Whitman.
****************************************
History of Dodge County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1880, pp
651-652
Col. Jacob W. ROBY, farmer, Section 3 [Williamstown Township, Dodge County,
Wisconsin], P. O. Kekoskee [Williamstown Township], was born 09 July 1824 in
Oneida County, New York. His parents were farmers, and he was educated in
the common schools of Oneida County. When about twenty-one, he was made
Captain of a boat on the Erie Canal, which position he held until the fall of
1851, when he settled on 130 acres of his present farm. About twenty acres
of this were poorly cleared, upon which was a log house. As a result of
years of toil and management, the Colonel has 170 acres of well improved
[land], with the best of buildings; he also owns a farm of 200 acres in York
County, Nebraska.
He [Jacob W. ROBY] enlisted 14 September 1861 with eighty-four men of Dodge
County, and received eighty-three votes for Captain, voting himself for J.
ADAMS of Horicon [Hubbard Township, Dodge County]. This company was called
the Lyon Guards, and was organized with the Tenth Wisconsin Volunteer
Infantry as Company B. He served as Captain of this company until 20
September 1863, participating in all engagements, including Perryville, where
his belt plate was dented by a rebel bullet, and Stone River, where his right
arm was broken by a piece of rebel shell.
In the battle of Chickamauga, Lieut. Col. ELY was mortally wounded. Capt.
[Jacob W.] ROBY then took and retained command of the regiment, was afterward
commissioned Lieut. Colonel by Gov. LEWIS, and commanded the remnant of his
heroic regiment at the battles of Buzzard's Roost, Lookout Mountain and
Missionary Ridge. He [Jacob W. ROBY] was then about two months in command of
the post at Tyner's Station, East Tennessee. The regiment then joined
SHERMAN in his Atlanta campaign and was among the foremost at the battles of
Snake Creek Gap, second Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Dalton, Kenesaw Mountain,
Chattahoochee and Peach Tree Creek. [An account of the Battle of Peach Tree
Creek follows.]
In this battle, Col. ROBY was ordered to advance from the second line with
his regiment to a certain position, on reaching this position the first line
began fighting, here the Colonel's horse was wounded; dismounting, he
advanced without orders to a position near the first line to protect his men
by the shelter of a hill, from the crest of which the first line was
repulsed. The Colonel tried in vain to stay the mad retreat of this, the
104th Illinois Volunteer Infantry; he then, still without orders, ordered a
charge on the three rebel regiments, now in full possession of this partly [p
652] entrenched hill, this seemingly reckless dash so surprised the enemy
that their fire passed harmlessly over the heads of our boys, the Colonel
ordered his first line to fire, which fire broke the rebel lines; the second
fire completed the rout, the Wisconsin boys still pouring in merciless fire
upon the flying foe, many of the boys firing twenty or more rounds.
This was one of the most wonderful as well as daring feats of the war, as the
10th did not lose a man; Col. ROBY received a shot through his hat and one
officer was wounded in the shoulder. The regiment then participated in the
siege of Atlanta and the battle of Jonesboro; after helping to pursue HOOD
over Sand Mountain, the time of the regiment having more than expired, it
returned and was mustered out in Milwaukee, 03 November 1864. The Colonel
then retired to his farm, where he now recounts, with pride and pleasure, the
exploits of his famous regiment. Among his souvenirs he has a sword
presented by his company and one presented by the regiment; also a splendid
scarf given him by Capt. DONAHUE, of Company E, 104th Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, whose life was saved by the charge at Peach Tree Creek.
In 1844 the Colonel [Jacob W. ROBY] married Miss Esther C. MOON, of Herkimer
County, New York. They [Jacob W. and Esther C. (MOON) ROBY] have five
children: (1) George H., (2) Elizabeth C., a twin; (3) Samuel D., twin of
Elizabeth D.; (4) Milton H., and (5) Eugene W. Col. ROBY is Republican.
*********************************
Tenth Wisconsin Infantry
Perryville, Stones River, Chickamauga, Atlanta Campaign
Cols., Alfred R. Chapin, John G. McMynn, Duncan McKercher, Lieut.-Cols., Joshua J. Guppey, John G. McMynn, John H. Ely, Jacob W. Roby; Majors., John G. McMynn, Henry O. Johnson, John H. Ely, Duncan McKercher, Robert Harkness.
This regiment was organized at Milwaukee and was mustered in Oct. 14, 1861, with a numerical strength of 916. It left the state Nov. 9, and the following spring made a march upon Bowling Green, dislodged the enemy at Huntsville, where it captured the military road, machine shops, engines and rolling stock, seized Stevenson, Decatur and Tuscumbia and elicited high praise from Brig. General Mitchell.
It defended and saved Paint Rock bridge, acted as rear-guard in the retrograde movement to the Ohio, in which it fought guerrillas at almost every step brought trains safely from Huntsville to Stevenson, and assisted in repelling an attack at the latter place. It was under a heavy fire at Perryville, Ky., and at one time held its position with empty guns for 20 minutes until the battery which it had been ordered to support was placed in a safe position. Of 276 men engaged 36 were killed, 110 wounded and 1 missing. Gen. Rousseau said in his report: "For this gallant conduct, these brave men are entitled to the gratitude of their country and I thank them here as I did on the field of battle."
The regiment was engaged at Stone's River, remaining on the field for 4 days, was at Hoover's Gap, and took part at Chickamauga under a terrible fire, losing 18 killed, 56 wounded and 132 missing, of whom the greater number were prisoners. It supported Loomis' battery at Missionary Ridge and in the Atlanta campaign participated in the battles at Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain and Peachtree Creek. On Oct. 16, 1864, the recruits and reenlisted veterans were transferred to the 21st regiment and the remainder were sent to Milwaukee where they were mustered out Oct. 25.
The original strength of the regiment was 916. Gain by recruits 105; veteran reenlistments, 13; total, 1,034. Losses by death, 219; desertion, 21; transfer, 23, discharge, 316, mustered out, 455.
***************************************
Report of Capt. Jacob W. Roby, Tenth Wisconsin Infantry (Chickamauga).
HDQRS. TENTH WISCONSIN INFANTRY,
Chattanooga, September 23, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the Tenth Regt. Wisconsin Volunteer In-fantry during the late engagement:
The regimental marched from near Stevens' Gap on the night of the 18th instant to within 10 miles of Chattanooga. Saturday morning, September 19, we were ordered to advance on the enemy in the second line of battle with the brigade. After advancing a short distance we received a fire from the enemy, but they were driven some distance through the woods. At this time we were ordered up in the front line on the right of the brigade. We threw out skirmishers and soon engaged the enemy; our skirmishers were soon driven in and the enemy advanced on us in heavy force. We held our position a few moments, but the enemy turning our right flank, we were forced to fall back and did so with the brigade. We lost at this time 1 officer and 9 men killed and several wounded. In the afternoon we again advanced to the front with the brigade and in the evening fell back.
Sunday morning, 20th instant, our regiment was again moved to the front and formed behind the Thirty-eighth Indiana. We remained here till about 10 o'clock, when we were ordered forward to support the Thirty-eight Indiana, where we remained but a short time when the enemy turned the left of our division and were advancing through the woods on our left flank. Our right was now thrown to the left of the brigade and engaged the enemy. They were soon forced to fall back. They made another attempt to break through on our left about noon, but were repulsed as before and we held our own till nearly dark, when we received a flank and rear fire from the enemy and were forced to fall back. Our regiment, being on the left and not knowing the position of the enemy on that side, fell back in that direction and therefore ran into the lines of the enemy. Col. Ely, Maj. McKercher, and nearly all of the officers we had on the field, together with most of the men, were supposed to have been captured at this time. All we could find were brought off with the balance of the brigade. Monday morning, September 21, we numbered 3 officers and 26 men. We were moved to the front about 1 p. m. and formed in rear of the brigade, where we remained until about 4 a. m., September 22, when we were ordered to retire and moved with the brigade to Chattanooga, where we have remained since.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. W. ROBY,
Capt., Comdg. Tenth Wisconsin Infantry.
Lieut. GEORGE H. DEVOL,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-New York Times, June 2, 1882:
Miss Elizabeth Collins, of Milwaukee, a young girl of 18 years, has brought suit for $25,000 damages against Col. Jacob W. Roby, a well-to-do widower of Mayville, Dodge County, Wis, for alleged breach of promise of marriage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After Esther's death (Oct. 30, 1899) he married Grace Jones (1873-1971), on August 12, 1900. She was 46 years younger and remarkably collected his Civil War pension until her death- 106 years after the war ended.
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